Don’t invest in unregistered property projects, potential homebuyers cautioned

The advisory said marketing, sale or purchase of units in an unregistered real estate project is violates provisions of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016.

Published on: Aug 14, 2026, 17:32:39 IST

By Leena Dhankhar, Gurugram

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The Haryana Real Estate Regulatory Authority (HARERA), Gurugram has issued a public advisory cautioning homebuyers against buying property in unregistered real estate projects.

The statement said the authority had taken note of misleading advertisements of unapproved and directed promoters to refrain from pre-launch advertisements, marketing materials or such promotional offers. (Parveen Kumar/Hindustan Times)

The authority urged people to exercise due diligence before making any investments and to verity the essential project details, including the RERA registration certificate, registration number, project’s website, approved site address and other relevant credentials available on the authority’s portal.

According to the advisory, marketing, sale or purchase of units in an unregistered real estate project is violates provisions of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016.

It said the authority had taken note of misleading advertisements of unapproved and directed promoters to refrain from pre-launch advertisements, marketing materials or such promotional offers.

The advisory said under Section 9 of the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act, 2016, every real estate agent facilitating the sale or purchase of units in a registered project must obtain registration with the authority, and any facilitation of transactions without such registration attracts legal consequences under the Act.

Under Section 59(2) of the Act, 2016, advertising, marketing, booking, selling or offering for sale any un-registered real estate project constitutes a punishable offence.

It said the Authority may initiate appropriate Legal and Regulatory action against Promoters, Agents or any other persons found violating the provision of the Act.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More

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